Anwar Rejects New Mercedes S600 To Cut Expenses But Ismail Sabri Said He Did It First
The newly-minted Prime Minister made the decision because he did not want any new expenses incurred on him.
By Aqasha Nur’aiman — 29 Nov 2022, 02:52 PM — Updated over 1 year ago
After announcing that he will not be taking a salary as Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that he has also refused to use a Mercedes S600 that was purchased by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
Making the announcement on Twitter, Anwar said he made the decision before coming into his office because he did not want any new expenses imposed on him.
"I have decided to use whatever vehicles are available in the office for daily use," said the Prime Minister.
Netizens praised the Prime Minister for his efforts to cut wasteful spending
One user thanked Anwar for being transparent about how Malaysians' money is being spent.
"This is the transparency that we seek, and hopefully, it becomes a new culture in all ministries," she said.
Another user pointed out that the Mercedes S600 that Anwar had rejected is a luxurious vehicle with high-end specs, and that most people would not turn down the opportunity to use it.
"Finally, a leader who does not want waste to happen and is already grateful for what he already has. The money can be used for the people," said another.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's press secretary Ruhaidini Abd Kadir also jumped into the conversation, saying that Anwar's decision not to use the vehicle was not groundbreaking
When Ismail Sabri became the ninth prime minister, he apparently also turned down the option of using a new official car and staying in Seri Perdana.
Ruhaidini added in her Facebook post that the former premier felt more comfortable using the previous administration's multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and decided against using a "bullet-proof government vehicle".
"In fact, Ismail even refused to approve upgrades to Perdana 1 (the official aircraft of the prime minister). He also continued to stay in his personal home and opted against moving to Seri Perdana, even though the prime minister's official residence had been nicely renovated," she said.
